burgerinitiatieven stormen het parlement over digitale macht en kinderrechten

2026-02-02 politiek

Den Haag, maandag, 2 februari 2026.
Op 3 februari ontving de Tweede Kamer zes krachtige petities. Een daarvan komt van Els Overal, initiatiefneemster van DeGoedeZaak. Zij overhandigde 160.000 handtekeningen tegen de Amerikaanse overname van Solvinity, het bedrijf achter DigiD. Haar woorden zijn scherp: “Je hebt niet DigiD, je bént DigiD.” Dat benadrukt hoe diep de overheid in ons digitale leven reikt. Ook ouders acteren. Jehtro Geelen bracht een petitie over leerlingenvervoer. Zijn dochter Luca, 13, heeft autisme. Lange, drukke ritten maken haar overprikkeld. Hij eist een structurele oplossing. Beide gevallen tonen hetzelfde beeld. Burgers vragen transparantie en controle. Ze willen dat de overheid echt verantwoordelijkheid neemt. Niet alleen luisteren, maar daadwerkelijk sturen.

citizens demand action on digital sovereignty and student transport

On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, six formal petitions were presented to the Second Chamber in The Hague during the weekly parliamentary session [1]. Citizens and organizations personally delivered their concerns, underscoring civic participation in Dutch democracy. Among them, Els Overal, representative of the citizen initiative DeGoedeZaak, submitted a petition bearing 160,000 signatures opposing the proposed American acquisition of Solvinity, the company responsible for the DigiD platform [4]. Her statement emphasized public unease: “You don’t have DigiD, you are DigiD” [4]. Simultaneously, parent Jehtro Geelen advocated for improved school transportation conditions for vulnerable students, including his autistic daughter Luca, who suffers from sensory overload during lengthy commutes [6].

digital dependence sparks political debate

The petition against the takeover of Solvinity by the American firm Kyndryl has ignited debate over national digital autonomy [4]. A majority of parliamentarians, including members from GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, BBB, CDA, and VVD, oppose the transaction due to risks to digital sovereignty [4]. State Secretary Eddie van Marum (Interior Affairs) informed the House that options for intervention are being reviewed [4]. While JA21 MP Daniël van den Berg downplayed immediate cyber threats, he acknowledged excessive reliance on U.S. technology infrastructure [4]. The coalition agreement published on 31 January 2026 explicitly commits to reducing strategic dependencies in cloud services and critical systems through centralized, secure procurement practices based on principles such as zero trust and open source [7].

parents protest inadequate school transport

Another petition addressed systemic shortcomings in special education student transport [6]. Jehtro Geelen initiated the campaign titled “Our Children Are Not Packages,” which gathered over 7,000 signatures before submission to the Committee for Education, Culture and Science [6]. His daughter Luca, aged 13, experiences severe overstimulation due to prolonged travel in crowded vehicles, directly impacting her ability to learn [6]. Parents report recurring issues such as late arrivals, incorrect drop-offs, and poor service quality [6]. Research conducted by Ouders & Onderwijs confirms parental dissatisfaction with the lack of alignment between transport offerings and children’s needs [6]. The petition calls for nationally standardized travel time limits and structural improvements rather than annual reassessments [6].

petition process highlights democratic engagement

Petitions are formally submitted in the States Passage hall between 13:15 and 14:00 CET every Tuesday, coinciding with committee meetings [1]. On 3 February, submissions included demands on nature restoration, energy policy, religious persecution abroad, education cuts, digitalization, women’s rights, and student transport [1]. Each petition is directed to relevant parliamentary committees for review [1]. According to parliamentary procedures, responses may involve debates, official replies, or further investigations [1]. The dual emphasis on digital infrastructure control and child welfare illustrates citizens’ growing expectations for proactive governance [GPT]. Both initiatives reflect sustained advocacy efforts, with DeGoedeZaak collecting 160,000 signatures and De Hart van Nederland supporting the parents’ cause [4][6].

Bronnen

Tweede Kamer petities